Colorado: Civil unions bill gets OK from judiciary committee

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Measure has already passed the State Senate

FRISCO — Colorado’s civil unions bill cleared another hurdle today, winning passage out of the House Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan 8-3 vote. Republican Representative Carole Murray joined all the Democrats on the committee in voting in favor. The next stop is the House Finance Committee.

The Colorado Legislature almost passed a civil unions bill last year, but Republican lawmakers quashed the measure by referring it to a so-called kill committee, stacked with ultra-conservative lawmakers during legislative overtime.

SB13-011, sponsored in the House by Speaker Mark Ferrandino (D-Denver) and Rep. Sue Schafer (D-Wheat Ridge), would allow all couples — gay, lesbian or straight — to enter into civil unions, which would provide benefits, protections and responsibilities similar to those granted to heterosexual couples in Colorado.

Speaker Ferrandino told the committee that since he and his longtime partner recently became the foster parents of a baby girl, “I am reminded every day that family matters more than anything else.”

“This legislation won’t change my relationship with Greg or Lila,” he said, “but it will provide the needed protections for our precious daughter and for ourselves.”

“There are families throughout Colorado, including my own, who are living the same as any family but lack the legal safeguards and recognition afforded to everyone else,” Speaker Mark Ferrandino said. “These committed couples want civil unions to uphold the values we all hold dear: commitment to others, stability, responsibility, and, most importantly, family.”

“Committed gay and lesbian couples in the state have been waiting for years — 10, 20, even 40 years — to have their relationships protected. It’s well past time that these families have the security we all need and deserve,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, the leading organization advocating for civil unions.
“Representative Murray’s courageous vote is further recognition that civil unions adhere to the core conservative principles of individual liberty and limited government. We look forward to bipartisan passage on the floor of the House,” said Clark.

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Colorado: Civil unions bill wins key committee vote

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Measure will be debated on the floor of the House

A Colorado civil unions bill this week won approval from the House Judiciary Committee.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado’s proposed civil unions bill this week cleared a significant hurdle, winning approval in the House Judiciary Committee where a similar measure faltered last year.

The Committee passed SB-2 with the support of Republican Representative B.J. Nikkel, of Loveland, who joined all of the Committee’s Democrats in voting in favor of the bill.

“Today’s bipartisan vote is a tremendous victory for gay and lesbian couples across the state,” said Brad Clark, Executive Director of One Colorado, a statewide organization advocating for gay and transgender people. “We applaud Representative Nikkel’s courageous vote for all families. She is the new face of the Republican Party — a party that’s quickly recognizing that civil unions adhere to a core conservative principle: The less intrusion into personal liberty the better.” (more…)

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Colorado: Budget cuts could hit avalanche center

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A small backcountry avalanche near Loveland Pass, Colorado.

Changes in oil and gas severance fund allocations could affect backcountry avalanche forecasting program

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Continuing budget woes in Colorado could result in a big hit for Colorado Avalanche Information Center funding, as lawmakers mull various options to balance the budget.

A laundry list of cuts prepared for the Colorado Joint Budget Committee includes one option that would eliminate oil and severance tax funding for the Colorado Geological Survey. Under that scenario, the CAIC budget could take a $200,000 hit. You can visit the budget committee online here. (more…)

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Colorado: Civil unions bill to be introduced

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Coalition aims to support a civil union law for same-sex couples.

New law would give gay and lesbian couples more economic security and domestic stability, according to supporters

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Advocates of same-sex civil unions in Colorado launched a major push to build public support for a bill that would give gay and lesbian partners some important legal rights in domestic, financial and healthcare matters.

The newly formed umbrella support organization, One Colorado, has put together an impressive coalition of businesses, civic groups and other organizations representing about half a million Coloradans in a strong show of diverse support for the measure. Follow the group’s efforts via Twitter and on the group’s Facebook page.

Watch this YouTube video with some footage from a press conference announcing the effort.

(more…)

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